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I just finished reading Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker, an actual hard-cover print book.
I haven’t read a print book in years because I mainly consume all information online. After doing some spring cleaning, I came across this and a few other books which I had gotten years ago.
Becoming a millionaire is something I’ve always aspired to be but I think now, I’m really driven to get to this goal. So I’m consuming everything I can about this topic.
Another book, I just picked up from my new-found pile is 7 Money Mantras for a Richer Life by Michelle Singletary. As of writing this article, I’ve only read the introduction and I’m about to get into the rest of the book.
So it got me thinking about what other books I might want to read when I’m done reading this one. I did some research to see what titles are available to anyone who would like to become rich in 2021. Some titles popped up over and over again so I thought I’d share them just in case we have the same goals.
If you want to become rich and you’re down to follow and apply the advice and wisdom from others who have already achieved massive wealth, you’ll want to read these 12 books.
1. The Little Book of Common Sense Investing – John C. Bogle
I don’t have a lot of experience with investing. I’ve always wanted to do it because it seems like a sure way to build wealth as some of the richest billionaires have grown their wealth this way. Like Warren Buffett for example who has endorsed this book.
Almost every list I’ve read has this book listed as one of the books you should read if you want to get really rich.
The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John C. Bogle, the founder of The Vanguard Group, deals with investing in index mutual funds, and shows you how to win at investing in the stock market, what to do and what not to do. Some very valuable lessons can be found within the pages.
After listening to the books introduction and reading the first chapter, I’ll say that this book does offer up some specific advice to people who want to get rich through investing in the stock market.
2. Think & Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill
One of the very first books I read on this topic is this timeless classic published over 80 years ago. I read Think and Grow Rick by Napoleon Hill while I was involved with multi-level marketing back in 2004.
Think and Grow Rich has sold over 100 million copies worldwide and almost every list I researched made mention of this book. The book contains some of the best practical financial advice like the secrets to getting more money, getting out of debt, retiring early and achieving whatever financial goal you desire.
I have used Hill’s 6 step secret formula for achieving financial goals to quit my day job, which I did a year ahead of time back in 2009.
It doesn’t matter that Think and Grow Rich was written in 1937. The advice in this book is still relevant today and worth millions if you apply them to achieve your financial goals.
3. Your Money or Your Life – Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez
Published in 1992 and recently revised and updated in 2018, Your Money or Your Life has been called “the best book on money, period” by Grant Sabatier, creator of Millennial Money and author of a book called Financial Freedom. Sabatier went from having $2.26 in his bank account to earning over 7 figures in a short period of time.
Oprah has also endorsed this book by saying “it can really change your life”.
Subtitled 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence, this book gives useful advice on minimizing spending, maximizing your income and where to invest your money for long term financial freedom.
This is another book that turned up on multiple lists while I was researching books for getting rich.
4. How Rich People Think – Steve Siebold
If I was looking for a book on getting rich, the title of this book by Steve Siebold would definitely get me to pick it up.
I like books and content like this because you can get a peek into the mind of people who are already what you want to become and what it takes to get there. This is similar to the book Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by Eker that I just finished reading.
For How Rich People Think, Siebold interviewed hundreds of millionaires who share their secrets and advice to getting rich so that you can learn how they think, copy them by taking action and get rich yourself.
He compares this advice with that of the middle class so you can see the vast difference of how both classes think and what keeps people from reaching their full potential.
As one reviewer on Amazon put it, if you spend any time at all worrying about money then this book is a must read.
5. The Richest Man in Babylon – George S. Clason
Tony Robbins, whose book appears on this list below, recommends this classic book published in 1926 to everyone.
Clason’s The Richest Man in Babylon along with Think and Grow Rich are two books that were recommended reading to me during my brief encounter with multi-level marketing years ago. Over the years, I would hear both books mentioned to me by internet marketers and finance bloggers.
While I’ve read Think and Grow Rich, I still haven’t read The Richest Man in Babylon which dispenses secrets to creating and growing wealthy through entertaining stories of ancient Babylonian merchants and traders – some of the first people to discover the universal laws of prosperity.
A book like this that has been around for almost a century inspiring people to grow wealthy is definitely worth the read.
6. The Automatic Millionaire – David Bach
Originally published in 2004 and spending 31 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, The Automatic Millionaire by David Back is another title that has been recommended by others as a must-read if you want to grow rich.
The book was expanded and updated in a 2016 version after selling 1.5 million copies worldwide.
David Back has written other books on this topic such as Smart Couples Finish Rich and Start Late, Finish Rich but in the Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich, he dishes the one secret you need to achieve millionaire status.
A “one-step plan” definitely sounds interesting to me so I think it’s going to be a must-read sooner than later. I actually previewed some of the pages of this book on Amazon and I can say that it’s an easy read and the advice is very doable. This is the kind of book that I love reading at the moment.
7. The Intelligent Investor – Benjamin Graham
Another book on stock market investing makes the cut, this time a timeless text that was first published in 1949 and revised numerous times over the years.
The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing, has educated and inspired investors worldwide since it’s first publication and Graham’s strategies have been proven to hold up over the years.
The book is endorsed by investment billionaire Warren Buffett who contributes to the book’s preface and appendix and has annotations by financial journalist Jason Zweig to reflect on the realities of the current market so as to give readers a more thorough understanding on applying Grahams strategies.
I’ll have to say that this isn’t the type of book for me personally but if you’re seriously considering investing in the stock market (a good way to build wealth), then you have to read this book as it is often referred to as the bible of stock investing.
8. Business Adventures – John Brooks
The world’s second richest man, Bill Gates, once asked the third richest man, Warren Buffett what his favorite book about business was. Buffett, without missing a beat told him Business Adventures by John Brooks.
Gates borrowed Buffett’s copy and he went on to say that it was indeed the best business book he every read.
Published in 1969, Business Adventures tells 12 stories about American businesses like Xerox, GE and Piggly Wiggly that serve as lessons every business owner can learn something from.
You may wonder how stories set in the sixties can be relevant to a time so far removed and advanced but as one reviewer on Amazon put it – times may change but people don’t. Business Adventures is more than just tales about American business, they’re lessons about people that we can all learn something from.
9. Money: Master the Game – Tony Robbins
Steve Forbes of Forbes Magazine says that Money: Master the Game – 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom is a goldmine of moneymaking information.
Robbin’s book is based on interviews with some of the top financial experts in the world including Carl Icahn, Warren Buffett, John Bogle, Paul Tudor Jones, Marc Faber, Ray Dalio and many others.
Robbin’s lays out a seven step plan to achieving financial freedom no matter what your level of income. He also busts 9 popular financial myths so that you can have an insider perspective on what it takes to really manage your money.
If you want to become rich Money: Master the Game gives you a strategy to “create a lifetime income plan” and be able to master the money game.
10. The Total Money Makeover – Dave Ramsey
Dave Ramsey has written a lot of books on financial freedom but it’s The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness that experts say will make you rich if you follow the advice within those pages.
The Total Money Makeover has sold over 5 million copies and close to 6 thousand reviewers on Amazon has given the book a 4.7/5 star rating as of the writing of this list.
As I scrolled through the table of contents of Ramsey’s book, some of the chapter titles looked familiar – they’re some of the same principles that his EveryDollar budget app was built around. This is an app that I use daily (the web version actually), to take control of my own finances.
Thanks to the EveryDollar, I’m familiar with things from the book like:
Based on my experience with the budgeting app, which was built by Ramsey’s company, I would say that Ramsey’s book is the real deal and should be a fun and educational read that will transform your finances.
11. The Millionaire Fast Lane – MJ DeMarco
The subtitle of The Millionaire Fast Lane by MJ DeMarco reads Crack the Code to Wealthy And Live Rich for a Lifetime.
If you’re like me and you’re reading this list, then this is exactly what you’re trying to do. The Millionaire Fastlane wants you to be rich for a lifetime by having you choose this way instead of the “Slowlane” where you’re rich when you’re retired and in a wheelchair.
Originally published in 2011, Millionaire Fastlane has been updated to include stuff about bitcoin and crytocurrencies.
Within the pages of The Millionaire Fastlane, you’ll learn how to avoid the sidewalk that the poor travel on, how to stay out of the slow lane and how to get into the fast lane where the rich travel.
DeMarco gives advice on why your job is a criminal trade, why you aren’t rich, how the rich really get rich and how to accelerate wealth among other interesting topics.
As long as you don’t get tired of the road trip metaphor throughout the book, you may find that this book gives helpful advice for improving your financial situation.
12. Rich Dad, Poor Dad – Robert Kiyosaki
The final book on this list is another familiar title that I learned about while involved with multi-level marketing. In fact, it’s the first book I was recommended to read soon after joining.
I still haven’t read Rich Dad, Poor Dad having opted for Think and Grow Rich back then just because my upline had it and was willing to lend it to me for the week.
What the Rich Teach their Kids about Money – That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not is the premise of this book by Robert Kiyosaki a businessman and financial educator who grew up with two dads, his real father and the father of his best friend. Both dads who fit the title profile, helped shaped his thoughts about money and investing.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad is a very influential book and appears on many lists about personal finance and growing wealth and you may have even heard about it somehow or the other since it was published in 1997. MLM companies, finance experts and business trainers all recommend this book which has spawned a series of books and a game.
These 12 books are not an exhaustive list of books that can make you rich and you may not want to read them all. I don’t plan on reading some of the titles but there are some that I can’t wait to read.
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It would certainly do well to research other books on the topic and read as many as you can. More importantly, the information in any of the books is useless if you don’t take action and try to implement them into your life. By taking action you will be closer to actually becoming as rich as you so desire.
Which of these books do you plan to read? Are there any titles that you’ve read that you wish to share? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Hey Jay,
really nice article. I’m also trying to motivate myself to read more books. Choosing the ones that might help to achieve our goals it’s a smart thing to do. The problem that I’m facing is that I usually don’t know which one to choose so your article is super helpful for people like me.
I’ve heard quite a lot of people talking about the Think And Grow Rich book. I think I might have downloaded it before as an audio book on my phone. Another sign that I have to get back on it…
I’ve seen a few videos of Tony Robbins and seeing his book in your recommendation makes me what to get into his way of thinking a little bit more. One of my good friends who works in finances also highly recommended me the ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ and I think this will be the next book I’ll reach for. Your article has actually helped me choose 😉
All the best!
Ola
Think and Grow Rich has helped me tremendously. Everyone seems to really love Rich Dad Poor Dad. Glad I could help you choose.
I was scrolling down the books and wondering why Kiosaki is not there… 😉
It was the last on. My favourite. I think it should be the first book for beginners, his style of writting is very clear and easy to understand even if you have no experience in the field.
I like the Intelligent investor too. Great Book
Yes. That Rich Dad book is a classic and a staple on any list of books about wealth building. I appreciate your feedback and thanks for sharing your choices, Alex.
Great list you compiled here. I will say that I was surprised to see the Total Money Makeover – I see that one as more of a very basic discipline to keep you from going backwards. Generally when I think of books to help you get rich I think of ones that change paradigms and stretch the mind to open ways to achieve what most people say is impossible. But unfortunately it is more common for folks to go backwards these days and get into debt and if you’re in debt you won’t be rich. I really enjoyed The Richest Man in Babylon it is a classic as so many on your list are.
Some people just need to get that push in the right direction and I think if that is what Total Money Makeover does then it helps. Ramsey’s methods can help set the foundation for someone who has a desire to get rich but their finances are in a mess to start with.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Daniel.
Thank you for this comprehensive list of books on books related to how to get rich.
Many books mentioned in this article are widely available both online and offline.
Personally among these books, my favourite got to be The Millionaire Fast Lane by MJ DeMarco.
I felt the way his style of thinking is close to mine . The feeling of 9 – 5 job is simply not healthy for any growing adults as this is not the ideal path for anyone who wants to get rich quick.
He shared why passive income is important in the new society and how freeing yourself from the daily routine of work will make you a happier person.
At the end of the day, everyone has to find his own style of getting rich , don’t you think so?
Thank you for your 2c Cindy. All the books mentioned here are available on Amazon and in bookstores or at your local library I’m sure.
What a great selection of wonderful books you have given here. I have read the little book of common sense investing as well as Think and Grow Rich. Both great books, although I must admit the second one I could only do in small chunks.
It is wise to have one of these types of books by your bed to read a bit every day, as this will slowly change your mindset for the better, but you need to keep feeding yourself the knowledge. I am going to look at getting the Automatic Millionaire as my next go-to book.
Not just read but also apply the knowledge. A lot of people forget about that part. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Michel.
This is good, I mean really good. I’ve been having this discussion about growing your money almost daily with my friends. Some are married and some are single but when they realized that I have more money put away than them, they wonder how I’m doing it! Think and Grow Rich was one of the books I’ve read many years ago, and I suppose it put me in a different mind frame. I think your list is right on point and well organized!
Thank you Melissa. Think and Grow Rich has impacted many lives. It should really be number one on the list.
Hi there, Jay!
Thank you for this awesome post, I bumped into your website from nowhere and the thing is that I love your content. I am that kind of person with that mentality that will do anything possible to get to that lifestyle, to that financial freedom. I can not see myself as a normal person with a boring job over the years. I have to be successful and I know I will.
The thing is that I read only one book from your list, and that is “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. I want to read all of the books you’ve mentioned in your article, my question for you is which did you like the most? Like…recommend me one book that I will order right now.
Thank you, all the best!
Alex, you definitely have the mindset of someone who will become rich. I actually like a few including How Rich People Think and Dave Ramsey’s book. I would suggest though that you read Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad as it is probably the second most popular book on the list among readers who have commented here.